Every team could use an enforcer and, in that category, there's no better free agent available than Thomas. As with every veteran free agent, Boston will use its championship potential as its best pitch.

HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: They need a post. He needs a championship. So the Boston Celtics and Kurt Thomas seem a fit.

In February, the Celtics traded starting center Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green. The green-and-white clearly missed Perkins' toughness, defense, and rebounding.

Nenad Krstic, who was included in the Perkins-for-Green deal, recently signed a long-term deal in Europe, while Glen 'Big Baby' Davis, when not fishing for lobsters, seems determined to leave when the lockout ends.

The Celtics have a hole down low. Thomas, a cross between Perkins and Davis, might be the answer.

Like Perkins, Thomas has presence. His shoulders are wide. His elbows are razor sharp. And his screens are lethal.

Like Davis, Thomas has skill. As a senior, he led the NCAA in scoring and rebounding. And he has a jump-shot, especially off pick-and-pops.

Then there's Thomas' demeanour. He's always professional, but has no problem calling out a teammate in the wrong –like Stephon Marbury.

The only downside is age. Thomas is 39, so the veteran-laden Celtics wouldn't get younger or more athletic.

Everything else works. Perhaps the Celtics and Thomas join forces for one last run at a championship.

Glen Davis laughed off the latest barb from Amar'e Stoudemire. The rail-thin Knicks center, who brags about his low body fat, had said Davis' "core wasn't as tight as it should be."

The 6-foot-9, 289-pound Celtics forward took that as a sly way of pointing out that he is chubby. Davis leaned back in his seat next to the court at the Garden and patted his round stomach."I've never have had abs, no abs," Davis said with a laugh. "I am not gonna worry about that. Never in my life have I had abs, ever, even when I was a little baby."

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Glen Davis doesn’t have abs. In fact, the portly post admits he’s never had a ripped stomach.

The Boston Celtics’ star is openly defending his body shape because Amar’e Stoudemire mocked his core to reporters. Stoudemire has six-pack abs. Davis does not.

Davis does have a championship ring, though. His team does have a 3-0 advantage in their playoff series against Stoudemire’s New York Knicks.

Most importantly, Davis has his priorities right. Stoudemire does not.

For instance, Davis is laughing off Stoudemire’s latest insult, worrying only about closing out the series, and not saying anything at this stage that will end up on the Knicks’ bulletin board. There's no comment about Stoudemire being 'easy to defend'.

Meanwhile, Stoudemire is foolishly engaged in a personal duel. It doesn’t matter that he isn’t healthy. It doesn’t matter that his team is a game away from their cottages at the Hamptons. He’s acting a fool by running his mouth.

Of course, it’s ironic to see Davis showing maturity. His nickname is Big Baby. And he once missed weeks with a broken hand because he and a ‘friend’ had a physical encounter after a night of drinking.

Perhaps people learn. And perhaps people get sidetracked. Stoudemire will have time to think this over when his season soon ends.

Shaquille O'Neal failed a conditioning test this morning, and has been ruled out indefinitely by the Boston Celtics. Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations, made the announcement this afternoon with team physician, Dr. Brian McKeon.

"I'll never forget," he said, "Michael Finley told me right after dinner after Game Seven, 'Make sure in training camp, you need to establish yourself.' I took that with me through the whole summer -- 'Establish yourself. You need to be a force to be reckoned with.' "

Finley stressed to Davis that the Celtics could run the ball through him in the second unit this season. "You're capable enough to be doing that," the veteran said. Davis let the advice sink in. Then, it clicked.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Glen Davis should drop the ‘Baby’ from his ‘Big Baby’ moniker. Instead, he should just be ‘Big’.

This year, Davis has been ‘Big’ off the bench. His jumper has been ‘Big’. His post play has been ‘Big’. And his focus has been ‘Big’.

Instead of getting distracted by the hoopla surrounding his Boston Celtics, Davis has shown a razor focus, averaging a steady 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.

This is hardly a surprise. Davis has always had the skill-set to be a very good player. He’s surprisingly quick for his size. And he possesses world class hands.

Davis’ improved play gives Doc Rivers’ squad a deadly second unit. And he could be difference between the Celtics winning and losing another championship.
--Oly Sandor.

After chipping in six points, three rebounds, and two assists over 13:38 in his first action since sitting out the past three preseason games, O'Neal retreated to the bench and cheered on fellow LSU big man Glen Davis. Those words of encouragement?

"Jambalaya, barbecue chicken, and chimichangas," O'Neal said with a straight face after the game. "It's an LSU thing. I can't tell you, it's all secret society code."
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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Move on people. Avoid the obvious zingers about two ‘larger than life’ posts using a buffet spread as their secret code.

The one-liners are too easy –like picking on a fat kid at a candy store (see what I mean). Here’s the important thing: Shaquille O’Neal and Glen Davis are clicking.

After all, chemistry is a fickle thing. Last year, the Boston Celtics had it, and rode their team-first, get-stops style to the seventh game of the NBA Finals.

With their championship window closing, the green-and-white signed O’Neal, an aging superstar who struggles when playing a role. Of course, Davis – a talented, but temperamental youngster - recently complained about not knowing his role.

There was the potential for problems between these two –big, big problems.

O’Neal and Davis have bonded. How they bonded is irrelevant. What matters is they have bonded.

The Celtics can breathe a little easier. Instead of clashing like heavyweight sumo wrestlers, O’Neal and Davis have formed their 'secret society'.

Who are we to judge, or mock, them?

--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Shaquille O’Neal practiced with Boston's first unit for the second straight day. Doc Rivers said the plan was to start Jermaine O’Neal at center, but nothing was set in stone.

“I think just watching what [Shaq’s] doing, he doesn’t care [whether he starts],’’ Rivers said. “He just wants to play and help the team. He really wants to prove that he can play still, No. 1. And I think he just wants to win, and you can see that.’’

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent guard Delonte West. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

West, a 6’3” guard, has posted career averages of 10.0 points, 3.7 assists and has shot 37.3% from beyond the arc. Originally drafted by the Celtics with the 24th pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, West posted a career-high 12.2 points during his last season with the Celtics in 2006-07.

Those that love Delonte West and the Boston Celtics must be doing cartwheels, summersaults, and back flips after learning these two reached agreement on a new contract.

The troubled guard started his career with the Celtics, so this is familiar territory. His coach is the personable and friendly Glen ‘Doc’ Rivers. Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins are old teammates. He’s lived in Boston before, which isn’t far from his home of Maryland.

So West knows the organization. And vice-versa.

Rivers and GM Danny Ainge will support West through his personal issues, and accept that the guard will miss the first ten games of the season due to an NBA imposed suspension for a firearms infraction last summer.

Also, the Celtics are a veteran-laden club with big personalities. There’s The Big Three: Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce. Rondo is now an elite point guard. Shaquille and Jermaine O’Neal have presence. Of course, there’s Glen Davis and Nate Robinson, also known as Shrek and Donkey.

This boisterous group can shield him from the media and spotlight. West only has regain the form he showed with the Celtics before getting traded in a package to the Seattle Super Sonics for Ray Allen.

The combo guard will provide scoring, intensity, and toughness off the bench. All it cost Boston was the league minimum for a sixth year player and a little faith.

The Lakers have the best player, but Boston's depth of big-time playmakers will prevail in a game like this. I count eight Celtics -- the four current or former All-Stars in their starting lineup, plus Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Nate Robinson’s and little-used Michael Finley, a three-point shooter with the potential to become this game's Steve Kerr -- who have it in them to make the big shot. The absence of Kendrick Perkins may create more offense for the Celtics, and they'll make up for his rebounding with a team effort led by Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. Anticipate nothing less than a tightly wound classic played to a tempo that suits Boston.

Consider their road to the NBA Finals. First, they took out Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat -despite some questionable tactics from Kevin Garnett. They made the Cleveland Cavaliers – the NBA’s best team in the regular season – implode, which, unfortunately, gave us an extra month of The LeBron Watch. They then coolly took out the Orlando Magic, the reigning Eastern Conference champions, in six games.

This was a most improbable run for a club that was supposedly dead, gone, and over at mid-season. Clearly, they saved their best for last, though.

The green-and-white have now pushed the defending champion and heavily favoured Lakers to the limit. The secret to Boston’s success: inspired team play on the defensive end.

Doc Rivers’ crew is an all-time great defensive team. They can hang with any of Phil Jackson’s Chicago teams that had notable defenders like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant/Dennis Rodman. And they hold their own against Detroit’s Bad Boys and any of Pat Riley’s squads in Los Angeles or New York.

Offensively, somebody different carries the load each night. For instance, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo have all had moments.

Of course, reserves Glen Davis and Nate Robinson – also known as Shrek and Donkey - won game four of the NBA Finals. And the defending Sprite Slam Dunk Champion went off in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals, too.

That said, the Lakers have the edge in the decisive game-seven. Here’s why:

1) Home-court matters: The purple-and-gold is a different team at home. They’re confident. They’re nasty. And they’re arrogant.

2) No Perk’: The Celtics will miss Kendrick Perkins. They lack the size to win the paint, and contain Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

3) Kobe Bryant: He’s the best player on either team. He’s the best player in the NBA. And he understands tonight is a legacy game.

Bryant – if he wants to be considered an all-time great – can’t afford a loss. After all, five championships are far better than four. And two losses to the arch rival Celtics in the NBA Finals would be devastating.

Expect Bryant to drop a Jordan-like effort. And HoopsVibe News expects the Lakers to win.

Prediction for game-seven of the 2010 NBA Finals: Lakers 95, Boston 88.
Got thoughts? What is your prediction for game-seven of the NBA Finals?

Come on Los Angeles. You’re better than this. Shout outs to Shrek and Donkey AKA Big Baby Glen Davis and Nate Robinson. They stepped up when it mattered. Davis added 18 points and Nasty Nate provided 12 points. Lamar Odom disappeared as usual with 10 points in nearly 40 minutes of game time. Andrew Bynum could not get his game going, which resulted in Phil Jackson yanking him out early. The nagging injury is really affecting him.

Andrew Bynum said the swelling in right knee is the most it has been since he initially tore the cartilage April 30, but he is confident he will be back in action Sunday night for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. “It’s a little bit frustrating, but I’m going to play on Sunday, play hard on Sunday,” Bynum said after he played just 1:50 of the second half in the Lakers’ Game 4 loss to Boston.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: I see the difference. You see the difference. The world sees the difference.

The Los Angeles Lakers are a different team with Andrew Bynum playing -even if he's nowhere near full health. The young seven-footer anchors the middle with his length and size, which allows Pau Gasol to play the four-spot, his natural position, and embarrass opponents with his creative post moves and wonderful skill-set.

Consider Bynum's impact in the NBA Finals. With Bynum, the Lakers physically dominate the Celtics. Without him, the opposite occurs -the Celtics assert their will on the Lakers, especially in the all-important paint.

For instance, Boston's Glen Davis, at 6-8, probably doesn't dominate game four if Bynum, at 7-1, is playing because he'd have challenged and contested every 'Big Baby' shot and putback.

For the Lakers, it's a positive that Bynum will try to play in game five. Like it or not, he's the difference in this championship series.

Right or wrong, fair or not, Glen Davis and Nate Robinson have taken their lumps. Just this year, Davis got heat for breaking his hand in a training camp fight with a college friend, while Robinson's animated antics wore thin in New York.

There was good reason for the criticism: 'Big Baby' and 'Kryptonite' had talent and, at their core, seemed like good people. Both had the potential to be impact players -exactly like they did to seal the win in game four of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

And both, while immature, love basketball. After all, these two described their game four play as being 'like Shrek and Donkey.'

Now is their moment to shine. Davis and Robinson are taking full advantage and - as the clip below demonstrates - getting the last laugh.

Watch the youtube video and get us with thoughts on this dynamic duos' post-game stand-up act and play in game four.

Backup Glen "Big Baby" Davis scored half of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Celtics bench as it pulled away from the Los Angeles Lakers to win 96-89 on Thursday night and even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Game 5 is Sunday night in Boston. The Celtics' win guaranteed them a trip back to Los Angeles and averted a 3-1 deficit that has never been overcome in NBA history.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Down the stretch, the Boston Celtics needed a spark. And their bench answered the call, winning game four for the green-and-white.

With starters Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo struggling, coach Doc Rivers went with four reserves and first-stringer Ray Allen for most of the fourth quarter.

And this makeshift unit responded in the final frame: Glen Davis tallied 9 of his 18 points; Nate Robinson scored and set up others; Tony Allen forced Kobe Bryant left and made the game's best player work for every point; and Rasheed Wallace's length and physicality eventually wore on Pau Gasol.

Best of all, Ray Allen, Tony Allen, Davis, Robinson, and Wallace brought an energy that Boston was missing for most of the game.

The news gets worse for the Los Angeles Lakers: Andrew Bynum sat out the entire second half and only played 12 minutes because of his injured knee.

Bynum's numbers have been mediocre due to his poor health; however, his height and length has given the Celtics problems. Also, with Bynum on-court, Gasol can shift to the four-spot, his natural position.

However, give the Celtics credit. They capitalized on Bynum's absence. And their bench came through in the clutch.

HoopsVibe's Quick Call: The Phoenix Suns' zone, fast tempo, and affinity for the three-point shot wasn't enough because the Los Angeles Lakers were simply better and deserved to advance to the NBA Finals.

For instance, the Suns' fourth quarter charge was put out by Kobe Bryant, who nailed two clutch jumpers, even though Grant Hill was playing air tight defense. After sinking the second jumper, Bryant even gave Suns coach Alvin Gentry a friendly tap and stretched his arms in celebration.

The Lakers will now face the Boston Celtics in a classic finals match-up.

These two teams met in the 2008 NBA Finals, with the Celtics prevailing in six games because of their superior toughness down-low.

The 2010 championship will also be decided in the paint. Expect Boston to try and impose their will with bigs like Glen Davis, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, and Rasheed Wallace, while L.A. will be anxious to show they can mix it up in the middle.

Got thoughts on a Boston-Los Angeles NBA Finals? Come back to HoopsVibe for more Finals coverage.

How do you replace The Big Ticket? Glen Davis said he's got the answer in his back pocket: The Ticket Stub.

That's the nickname Davis coined for himself during last year's playoffs, when he filled in admirably for an injured Garnett. Davis averaged 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, while helping Boston get within one game of the Eastern Conference finals. (The Celtics fell to eventual conference champion Orlando in seven games in the second round.)

While Garnett and the Celtics awaited official word from the league about whether Boston's starting forward would be suspended for his role in Saturday's Game 1 fourth-quarter melee -- the league made the one-game ban official Sunday night -- Davis said he'd be ready to once again fill Garnett's shoes.

"Well, if Kevin's out, I have to bring back the Ticket Stub," said Davis. "You all know the Ticket Stub, you all saw the Ticket Stub last year. If [Garnett is] gone, I've got the Ticket Stub right in my back pocket and I can bring it out."